The question posed to Mike Brown is to describe Dwight Howard's first weeks of practice, how the latest in the long line of great Lakers centers looks, whether the mighty expectations might actually be met.

The words come to exist like popping corn inside Brown's head, slowly but soon rapid-fire — because there are just so many descriptions the Lakers' coach feels compelled to share in his answer.

Phil Jackson has been a fan of Michael Jordan's since ... well, for a long time. And like most other fans, the Lakers coach believes the former superstar can perform magic on a basketball court.

Jackson also believes Jordan can do the same behind a desk.

Jordan bought controlling stake in the Charlotte Bobcats this week, a move Jackson applauded. The Chicago Bulls great has been a part-owner since 2006 and oversaw its basketball operations.

"As far as ownership goes and general manager, I think there are a lot of players that are capable of doing that job," Jackson said. "You just have to be able to connive a little bit and be able to manipulate agents and I think those are things that it takes a poker player sometimes to do that."

The Rockets get Kevin Martin, Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries from New York (plus first-round pick choices in 2011 and '12), while Sacramento gets Houston's Carl Landry, Joey Dorsey and New York's Larry Hughes.

...The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Jodie Meeks, Francisco Elson and a second-round pick to Philadelphia for Primoz Brezec and Royal Ivey.

One star player wants to be traded. Another doesn't know what he wants.

Still another player needs surgery, the team needs defensive players and the coach just might need a psychiatrist couch before the season is through. And to think the season has only just begun for the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors are a mess and now they must face the defending NBA champion Lakers in the first of three preseason games, starting with Wednesday's game at the Honda Center. Talk about heaping it on.

Before the Warriors opened the doors for training camp, Coach Don Nelson was hit with Stephen Jackson demaning a trade, a stance of which he has not backed off.

Then there is Monta Ellis, the youngster who injured himself on a moped and tried to hide it, ripping into management for drafting Stephen Curry and saying he couldn't play in the same backcourt at the rookie, then switching gears, saying maybe it could work out. And to think those are the two captains.